An essay in defence of the female sex

In 'An Essay in Defence of the Female Sex', author Judith Drake writes a compelling argument for women's intellectual equality in the face of entrenched societal views of women's inferiority. Written as a letter to a female friend, Drake draws on the rationalist arguments of John Locke to dismantle the prevailing ideas of women's limited capabilities. She also critiques the limitations imposed on women within the institution of marriage. Alongside her logical arguments, Drake paints sketches of male stereotypes to illustrate the folly of generalizing about an entire gender. Her ideas are similar to those of other feminist writers of her time, such as Mary Astell and Chudleigh, but her unique contributions show an early Enlightenment vision of social roles where women could be valuable contributors to society, particularly in the realm of education.